Gravity window-lock.



No. '638,037. Patented Nov. 2s, |899. www a vo. D. REEvEs.

GRAVITY WINDOW LOCK.

(Applicatiol led Feb. 17, 1899.)

(No Model.)

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. "WITTY AND ORANGE D. REEVES, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

GRAVITY WINDOW-LOCK.Y

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 638,037, dated November 28, 1899.

i Application filed, February 17, 1899. Serial No. 705,810. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that we, JOHN B. WITTY and ORANGE D. REEVES, of Indianapolis, county of Marion,and State of Indiana,have invented a certain new and useful Gravity Window- Lock; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like figures refer to like parts.

Our invention relates to means for fastening or locking a window-sash so that it can be moved neither up nor down or can be moved upward, as desired. Broadly speaking, we employ a suitable case that is embedded in the window-casing and has an inclined guideway in which a gripping-block is slidably mounted, the guideway and block being so inclined that the block in its lower position, obtained by gravity, extends outward somewhat into a position for gripping the window-sash. The case is provided with a rack, and a pawl is so mounted in the gripping-block as to remain in either a position to engage the rack or in a position to disengage it. This rack and pawl prevent the upward movement of the gripping-block, and the wedged position of the gripping-block while in gripping position prevents further downward movementof it, whereby the window-sash is held secure from either upward or downward movement. If the pawl is so turned that it does not engage the rack, the window-sash can be moved upward, but not downward.

The object of the invention is to provide an economical and simple device of the kind that will securely hold the window in any position and prevent any movement of it. It is also such as to be sunk in the casing, whereby it will present a neat appearance.

The above, with the other features of our invention, will more fully appear from the accompanying drawings and the description and claims following.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a window with both the upper and lower sash provided with our window-lock. Fig. 2 is a plan of the Window-lock with its grippingface upward. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the inside of the lock when in place. Fig, Li is a vertical section of a portion of a window-sash and a plan of the outside of the lock with the block in gripping position. Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section of the lock. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the upper end of the lock with means for operating the pawl when used on the upper sash. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the lock at the pawl with the crank for operating the pawl separate and partly in section. Fig. 8 shows the block gripping in its upper position.

Our lock is formed,preferably, by first making a case consisting of the sides l and 2 and the back 3, as shown in Fig. 7, all riveted or otherwise secured together. The back in longitudinal section appears in Fig. 5, which shows that the lower end of it is very thick and the thickness decreases as it extends upward until it reaches the head 4. Therefore the rivets are placed through these two thick ends, as well as elsewhere through the back, to hold the side pieces 1 and 2 securely in place to form the case.

The gripping-block 5 is wedge-shaped or rather inclined on the back, as seen in Fig. 5. Its outer surface is corrugated or toothed, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 7, to form the gripping or friction surface. This block 5 is slidable in the case between the two sides thereof, and for that purpose a suitable inclined guideway is formed in the case. back 3 is inclined, as shown in Fig.,5, decreasing in thickness from bottom to top. Likewise the inside faces of the side pieces l and 2 are cut away, as seen in Figs. 2 and 7, to form sh oulders 6. These are inclined parallel with the inclined face of the back 3, and on these the gripping block 5 preferably slides and bears. The upper end ofthe gripping-block is centrally eut away to form an extension 7 on each side thereof, which are cut out in the rear, as seen at 2l, through which the pin 8 extends transverse] y, and also through the slots 9 in the two sides of the case. These slots 9 are inclined to be parallel with the inclined guideways 6 and the back 3. Upon the pins 8 I secureapawl l0, that can rest in either an outward or rearward position. In its outward position it is ineffective. In its inner position, as shown in Fig. 5, it engages the teeth of the rack l1, formed in the upper part of the back 3. These teeth face downward, so that when the gripping-block and pawl are in the position The IOO

shown in Fig. 5 the block cannot be elevated. The slots 9 in the case are made wider than the pin 8. able the pawl, when the gripping-block is in the upper part of the case, to push the block farther outward by the pawl pushing against the rack. The wide slot permits the movement of the block. This outward push of the pawl will result automatically if one attempts to raise the window, and thus increases the grip of the block on the window-sash. It will be plain from inspection of Fig. S that the block will grip in its upward position because of the pawl, as well as in its lower position. There are two means for operating this pawl herein shown, one suitable for the upper sash appearing in Fig. 6 and one suitable for the lower sash appearing in Fig. 7. In said last-lnentioned figure the lower end of the pin 8, on which the pawl is mounted, is squared to receive the separate crank 12, whereby the .position of the pawl can be changed. This crank is employed to change the position of the window and is used where it is desired to prevent anybody from improperly operating the locking mechanism.

As Seen in Fig. 7, the pin 8 is set in the casing, and the casing has a widened rib 13 to cover and protect the end of the pin 8, so that it cannot be operated by the lingers or byv any means excepting a crank that will fit. This is useful in public and other buildings where windows are to be manipulated only by certain persons. To assist in thus protecting the end of the pin from improper manipulation, the slots 9 in the case are made somewhat V-shaped-that is, the lower portion is made narrower than the upper, as they need be wide in their lower portion to enable them to accomplish the purpose set forth, and this contraction tends to prevent any one from getting at the pin 8 without the crank 12. For general use and for upper sashes the form shown in Fig. 6 is preferable. There the crank 12 is integra-l with the shaft S. When used on the upper sash, it is convenient to have a cord 14 connected with the crank and extending upward over the pulleys 15, secured to the upper casing of the window, as seen in Fig. 1, and down to a place within reach. Then this form is used on the lower sash, the cord is omitted and the crank is always in place for releasing the pawl. In such form of the crank its gravity tends to hold the pawl in engagement with the rack and in an operative position.

To prevent the gripping-block from es.

` caping from the case, We provide the lug 16 on the side of the said block, near its upper end, which extends through the slots 9 on the inside 2 of the case, as seen in Fig. 3.

As seen in Fig. 1, the side bars 17 of the window-casing 18 are cut away and the lock inserted in place, with the side 1 of the casing outward and with the gripping-face of the block 5 against the window-sash 19. The

The purpose is to enlock for the upper sash is similarly embedded in the separating-strip 20. From this description it is to be observed that the wedgeshaped block 5 will drop into gripping position, as seen in Fig. 4, by gravity, and thus automatically adjust itself with relation to the sash, so as to hold the same, however heavy, from downward movement. When in such gripping position, if the pawl is turned into engagement with the rack the window likewise cannot be elevated. With such lock the window can be placed in any position, high or low, as may be desired. For the lower sash the lock should be placed near the upper end, while for theupper sash it should be placed near the lower end, and where the windows are not high a cord is not needed for the upper sash. The action of the lock for the upper sash is the same as that for the lower sash. The wedge-shaped construction of the parts of the lock prevent a downward movement of the upper sash, while the pawl, with equal positiveness, prevents its upward movement.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A windo w-lock including a vertically-eX- tending metal case adapted to be secured to the window-frame adjacent to the sash and having an inclined guideway therein, a gripping-block slidably mounted in such guideway so that gravity and the inclination of the guideway will cause it to move outward into a gripping position, a rack in said case with downwardly-facing teeth, a pawl so mounted in said gripping-block as to engage said rack whereby the block cannot move upward until the pawl is released and means for operating said pawl.

2. A window-lock including a vertically-extending metal case adapted to be secured to the window-frame adjacent to the sash with an inclined guideway therein and with longitudinal slots in each side of said case, a gripping-block slidably mounted in said guide- Way and with its rear side inclined reversely to the inclination of the guideway and having a notch or seat in the rear or upper portion of said block, a rack in said case with downwardly-facing teeth, a pawl mounted on a pin fitting in the notch or recess in said block and extending through the slots in the case, and a lug secured to said block and extending through one of the slots in the case t0 prevent the escape of the gripping-block from the case.

3. A window-lock including a vertically-extending metal case adapted to be secured to the window-frame adjacent to the sash with an inclined guideway therein and positivelylocated longitudinal slots in the side of said case, a gripping-block slidably mounted in said guideway with its rear sides inclined reversely to the inclination of the guideway, a rack in the upper portion of said case with downwardly-facing teeth, a pawl to engage said rack mounted on a pin in the upper por- IOO IIO

tion of said block, said pin extending through the slots in the case, the Width of said slots being greater than the diameter of said pin, whereby the pawl Will be permitted to force outward the gripping-block when it is in the upper part of the case.

4. A Window-lock including a vertically-extending rnetal case adapted to be secured to the Window-frame adjacent to the sash with an inclined guideway therein, a grippingblock mounted slidably in such guideway, a rack in the case with down Wardly-facin g teeth, a pawl to engage said rack carried on a pin mounted in the upper end of the sliding block and extending through the slots in the case, and means for rotating said pin to operate the pawl, the side of said case being provided with the slotted rib 13 whereby the end of the paWl-pin will be inaccessible excepting by means provided for operating it.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto affixed our signaturesin the presence of the witnesses herein named.

JOHN B. WITTY. ORANGE D. REEVES. vWitnesses:

V. H. LocKWooD, R. D. HAWKINS. 

